Whiffletree-iron



(No Model.)

A. A. ACKLEN.

WHIFFLETRBE IRON.

No. 404,147. Patented May 28, 1889.

wiillassas: \/a L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARON ALEXANDER ACKLEN, OF ARMISTEAD, LOUISIANA.

WHlFFLETREE-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,147, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed March 8, 1889. Serial No. 302,487. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Anon ALEXANDER ACKLEN, of Armistead, in. the parish of Bienville and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IVhiffl etree-Irons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin whiifietree-irons; and it consists in a hook which is to be used in connection with the whiffietree-iron, and which is composed of two pivoted rods or bars, which are formed into a hook at one end and aring at the other, the ring being adapted to be opened for the purpose of detaching it from the whi'ffletreeiron, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce whiflletree-irons which can be instantly attached to or removed from the whifiletree or other draft-bar at any desired point, to dispense with the screw-bolt usually used at the end of a whiffletree, and to enable the hook to be detached and replaced at will.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a whiiiletreeiron which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and i are detached Views showing the parts opened.

A represents a whifiletree or draft-bar of any kind, and to which the whiffletreeiron is applied. This iron consists of the two parts B, which have their outer ends curved, and which are attached at their inner ends to the flat spring 0, which extends around the rear side of the whiffietree or draft-bar. Passed through the inner ends of the parts B is the clamping-screw D, which serves to close the spring tightly upon the whiflletree or draftbar and to close the rounded outer end of the parts B together, as shown. The inner side of the outer end of each of these bars B is recessed, as shown, so that when the two parts are closed these two recessed parts will fit snugly together without increasing the thickness of the iron at this point. IVhen the screw is loosened, the spring springs apart sufliciently to allow the iron to be freely adjusted back and forth upon the whiflietree, either for the purpose of removing it or tightening it in another position. If the screw is removed, then the two outer ends of the parts B can be opened out to allow a hook or ring to be freely inserted or removed.

It will be seen that no bolt is necessary to secure this iron in position, and therefore it can be adjusted back and forth or made removable from the whiltletree at the will of the operator.

Used in connection and as a part of this whifiletree iron is the hook II, which is formed of two flat rods or bars, I, which are pivoted together at J, and which bars or rods have their outer ends formed into a hook, L,

and their inner ends curved so as to form the ring 0. \Vhen these rods I are turned upon their pivot, both the hooked ends and the curved inner ends separate from each other, as shown, and then the hook can be detached from the whifiietree-iron, or it can be attached to the link of a chain or other device, as may be desired. The rods are slightly bent at the point where they are pivoted together, so that the two ends which are formed into hooks will be on a level with each other, and so that their inner ends, which are curved so as to form a ring, shall be just enough out of line with each other to rest in contact with each other, as shown. hen the hook is open, as shown, the curved inner ends of the rods or bars spring just far enough apart to allow the whil'fletree-iron to pass in between them. By this construction the hook can be attached to or removed from the whiflietree when so desired, and, if necessary, attached to some other device in case it is so desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of two rods, I, pivoted together at J and having their outer ends formed into a hook and their inner ends into a ring, the rods being adapted to be turned upon their pivot for the purpose of opening or closing their ends, substantially de- In testimony whereoflaffix my signatnrein scribed; presence of two Witnesses.

2. A Whifiietree-iron composed of the two parts B, the flat spring for connecting them ARON ALEXANDER AOKLEN' 5 together, and a screw, With the hook formed of two pivoted bars, which are shaped and bent as shown, substantially'as set forth.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. DAVIS, WM. P. TUCKER. 

